NASA's SpaceX CRS-30: Launch Coverage Underway
New research and technology demonstrations for NASA are scheduled to launch aboard the agency's SpaceX 30th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station at 4:55 EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Coverage of launch and docking activities will air live on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency's website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms including social media.
Full mission timeline is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on operations):
COUNTDOWN Hour/Min/Sec Events 00:38:00 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load 00:35:00 RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins 00:35:00 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins 00:16:00 2nd stage LOX loading begins 00:07:00 Falcon 9 begins pre-launch engine chill 00:05:00 Dragon transitions to internal power 00:01:00 Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks 00:01:00 Propellant tanks pressurize for flight 00:00:45 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch 00:00:03 Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start 00:00:00 Falcon 9 liftoff
LAUNCH AND DRAGON DEPLOYMENT Hour/Min/Sec Events 00:00:58 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) 00:02:19 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO) 00:02:22 1st and 2nd stages separate 00:02:29 2nd stage engine starts 00:02:32 Boostback Burn Starts 00:03:24 Boostback Burn Ends 00:06:20 1st stage entry burn starts 00:06:40 1st stage entry burn ends 00:07:26 1st stage landing burn starts 00:07:50 1st stage landing 00:08:35 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1) 00:11:48 Dragon separates from 2nd stage 00:12:40 Dragon nosecone open sequence begins
SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft will carry more than 6,000 pounds of cargo, including new science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the international crew aboard the orbiting laboratory. NASA and its partners will send studies aboard the mission on plant metabolism in space and a set of new sensors for free-flying Astrobee robots to provide 3D mapping capabilities. Other research includes a fluid physics study that could benefit solar cell technology and a university project from CSA (Canadian Space Agency) that will monitor sea ice and ocean conditions.
Arrival at the station is scheduled for approximately 7:30 a.m. Saturday, March 23. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will dock autonomously to the zenith port of the station's Harmony module.
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